FOI External Review

The Freedom of Information Act 1992 (repealed) allows people to seek access to and amendment of documents held by an agency or Minister.

If you are not satisfied with a reviewable decision made by an agency or Minister under the Freedom of Information Act 1992, you first need to apply for internal review under that Act.

In circumstances where the agency did not make a decision within the prescribed time frame or where you are dissatisfied with the agency’s internal review decision, you may apply to the Information Commissioner for an external review.

Notes: 

• The Office will accept an application for external review via post, fax, email, our online webform or in person.  See our Contact us page for fax and address details.

• An application for external review under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 must be received by the Office within 28 calendar days from the date stated on the written notice of decision by the agency or Minister.  Under certain circumstances, the Information Commissioner may extend this period.

• There are no fees or charges for making an external review application.  However, each participant in a review must pay any costs they incur during a review, eg. for obtaining legal advice or photocopying documents to the Office to support an application.

• For more information on the external review process, please see our External Review Brochure.

• Visit the Decisions page to review our external review decisions

Click through to the external review application webform